Meg Ryan

What would you prefer? An intriguing failure -- prosciutto and raspberry compote on raisin bread, let's say -- or a tidily constructed cheese sandwich? "In the Cut" is a combo of conflicting motivations and intentions that doesn't bore, doesn't fade -- and simply doesn't work. At the same time, it does carry a distinctive resonance (as would the aforementioned prosciutto sandwich) that has everything to do with the maverick interpretive powers of wack-a-doo Australian director Jane Campion ("The Piano," "Holy Smoke")

What would you prefer? An intriguing failure -- prosciutto and raspberry compote on raisin bread, let's say -- or a tidily constructed cheese sandwich? "In the Cut" is a combo of conflicting motivations and intentions that doesn't bore, doesn't fade -- and simply doesn't work. At the same time, it does carry a distinctive resonance (as would the aforementioned prosciutto sandwich) that has everything to do with the maverick interpretive powers of wack-a-doo Australian director Jane Campion ("The Piano," "Holy Smoke")

Can you remember the last time you enjoyed a French kiss at the movies? Well, if you can or can't recall, everyone is tempted to participate in the latest version - the new Meg Ryan film, "French Kiss." Insightful director of "The Big Chill" and "Grand Canyon," Lawrence Kasdan, invites us to spend an hour or two in the city of romance, Paris, with three lost and frustrated lovers: Kate (Meg Ryan), Luc (Kevin Kline) and Charlie (Tim Hutton). Kate is led to Paris begrudgingly (she is afraid of flying and just about everything else)

The Daily Press scopes out news, notes and fun stuff in sports: With a little help from Dan Daly of the Washington Times, let's talk sports movies. Buffalo Bills quarterback Alex Van Pelt, picking the Oscar winners for buffalobills.com, said of Will Smith's "Ali" performance: "Smith got a lot of credit for putting on 30 pounds. Big deal, Will, I do that every offseason." Daly notes that with his performance as former Tampa Bay Devil Ray Jimmy Morris in "The Rookie," Dennis Quaid has now played a pitcher, a quarterback ("Any Given Sunday")

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are good at looking longingly at starlit skies during "Sleepless in Seattle." In fact, they're great at it. No matter how they did in acting school, we leave convinced they aced Star Staring 101. If only they could stare at each other that well. Granted, they don't have that much time together, and that's the biggest problem with "Sleepless." We get lots of witty banter and "aww" scenes as we watch Annie (Ryan) and Sam (Hanks)... well, stare.

At 93, Marguerite Schertle never dreamed her skills as a waitress would land her a role in a major movie. Schertle's been waiting tables for 45 years, and when the producers of "Sleepless in Seattle" needed a waitress, they chose her. Schertle appears 30 minutes into the movie, wearing the same blue uniform she wears in real life at the Women's Industrial Exchange in Baltimore, where the restaurant scene was filmed. She doesn't utter a single word as she waits on stars Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell, but the 10-second appearance cast her into Hollywood's limelight, and she rubbed shoulders with some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

"When A Man Loves A Woman" is the kind of film that seems destined to make money. It has a strong cast with substantial box office appeal and a storyline that any even slightly sentimental moviegoer will love. Unfortunately, it only half works. It isn't the acting. The film stars Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia as a couple who, on the surface, appear to have everything. Ryan, who is always appealing, plays Alice, an energetic school counselor and mother of two. The problem is, she drinks.

Though she never uttered a word in the film, Marguerite Schertle has already won a Best Actress "Oscar" for her performance in "Sleepless in Seattle." The unofficial statuette was a gift from her great-niece, DeDe Schertle of Denbigh, one of the 92-year-old's many Peninsula relatives who celebrated her film debut during a two-week visit. Family friend Carol Brake will honor Schertle today during a lunch at the Kiln Creek Country Club. In the movie, Schertle, of Maryland, plays a waitress at the Woman's Industrial Exchange, a Baltimore tearoom.

Dana Hubbard is the latest Hampton University drama student inspired by his upperclassmen to pursue an acting career. Hubbard enrolled at HU as a mass media major in 1982, the year Robi Reed and other successful drama students graduated. One evening, he strolled into the theater on his way to play basketball. He sat down to watch a play rehearsal and became fascinated with the performance of a student named Michael Ralph. "I suddenly knew what I wanted to do," Hubbard says.

The Daily Press scopes out news, notes and fun stuff in sports: With a little help from Dan Daly of the Washington Times, let's talk sports movies. Buffalo Bills quarterback Alex Van Pelt, picking the Oscar winners for buffalobills.com, said of Will Smith's "Ali" performance: "Smith got a lot of credit for putting on 30 pounds. Big deal, Will, I do that every offseason." Daly notes that with his performance as former Tampa Bay Devil Ray Jimmy Morris in "The Rookie," Dennis Quaid has now played a pitcher, a quarterback ("Any Given Sunday")

Seems like angels are everywhere these days. This weekend "City of Angels" hits movie screens and "Angels in America" comes to the stage at William and Mary. They represent just the latest examples of our culture's growing fixation with winged ones. Inspired by the late Michael Landon, television has been overrun with almost identical shows depicting angels who travel the country to impart celestial wisdom on troubled humans. Angel imagery pervades every genre of popular music, with angels of the morning, angels of Harlem, angels from Montgomery and angels with lariats.

Can you remember the last time you enjoyed a French kiss at the movies? Well, if you can or can't recall, everyone is tempted to participate in the latest version - the new Meg Ryan film, "French Kiss." Insightful director of "The Big Chill" and "Grand Canyon," Lawrence Kasdan, invites us to spend an hour or two in the city of romance, Paris, with three lost and frustrated lovers: Kate (Meg Ryan), Luc (Kevin Kline) and Charlie (Tim Hutton). Kate is led to Paris begrudgingly (she is afraid of flying and just about everything else)

At 93, Marguerite Schertle never dreamed her skills as a waitress would land her a role in a major movie. Schertle's been waiting tables for 45 years, and when the producers of "Sleepless in Seattle" needed a waitress, they chose her. Schertle appears 30 minutes into the movie, wearing the same blue uniform she wears in real life at the Women's Industrial Exchange in Baltimore, where the restaurant scene was filmed. She doesn't utter a single word as she waits on stars Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell, but the 10-second appearance cast her into Hollywood's limelight, and she rubbed shoulders with some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

"When A Man Loves A Woman" is the kind of film that seems destined to make money. It has a strong cast with substantial box office appeal and a storyline that any even slightly sentimental moviegoer will love. Unfortunately, it only half works. It isn't the acting. The film stars Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia as a couple who, on the surface, appear to have everything. Ryan, who is always appealing, plays Alice, an energetic school counselor and mother of two. The problem is, she drinks.

Though she never uttered a word in the film, Marguerite Schertle has already won a Best Actress "Oscar" for her performance in "Sleepless in Seattle." The unofficial statuette was a gift from her great-niece, DeDe Schertle of Denbigh, one of the 92-year-old's many Peninsula relatives who celebrated her film debut during a two-week visit. Family friend Carol Brake will honor Schertle today during a lunch at the Kiln Creek Country Club. In the movie, Schertle, of Maryland, plays a waitress at the Woman's Industrial Exchange, a Baltimore tearoom.

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are good at looking longingly at starlit skies during "Sleepless in Seattle." In fact, they're great at it. No matter how they did in acting school, we leave convinced they aced Star Staring 101. If only they could stare at each other that well. Granted, they don't have that much time together, and that's the biggest problem with "Sleepless." We get lots of witty banter and "aww" scenes as we watch Annie (Ryan) and Sam (Hanks)... well, stare.

Seems like angels are everywhere these days. This weekend "City of Angels" hits movie screens and "Angels in America" comes to the stage at William and Mary. They represent just the latest examples of our culture's growing fixation with winged ones. Inspired by the late Michael Landon, television has been overrun with almost identical shows depicting angels who travel the country to impart celestial wisdom on troubled humans. Angel imagery pervades every genre of popular music, with angels of the morning, angels of Harlem, angels from Montgomery and angels with lariats.

It's everywhere, it's everywhere. And it'll be in a theater near your starting today. "When Harry Met Sally" is getting lots of media attention. Most critics are warmed by the Billy Crystal-Meg Ryan combo. They fell for the tale of a friendship jinxed by cupid. They laughed. There's always room in the summer lineup for a funny little valentine of a movie. "When Harry Met Sally" is just that. Written by Nora Ephron ("Heartburn") and directed by Rob Reiner ("Stand by Me")

Dana Hubbard is the latest Hampton University drama student inspired by his upperclassmen to pursue an acting career. Hubbard enrolled at HU as a mass media major in 1982, the year Robi Reed and other successful drama students graduated. One evening, he strolled into the theater on his way to play basketball. He sat down to watch a play rehearsal and became fascinated with the performance of a student named Michael Ralph. "I suddenly knew what I wanted to do," Hubbard says.